Solo vibraphone version of a new composition titled "Someone Close". The lead sheet can be downloaded here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JRJ_f-K74wDDxL2y1gl1w-Uw5ZCW-N0_/view?…
First, this is a short sample of some rough practice time. Be aware. Just being accountable and looking for any feedback as to whether I'm on the right track. I do feel like this is helping.
One of the hardest things for me, personally, as I develop as an improviser, is "hearing" lines inside of the chord structure that AREN'T the actual chord tones, OR similarly....hearing lines that don't follow a diatonic pattern, e.g. up/down the scale. I realize this is probably very common at my early stage of learning, but it's non the less a bit frustrating...
Hey Everyone,
Check out Good Vibes, August edition, at my website, www.gloriajazz.com. Players from Red Norvo to Joel Ross.
Featured album for June and July has been Anthony Smith's Songs From a Lighter Planet. Have you heard it yet?
Keep cool,
gloria
"It Could Happen to You" - Fun working with vibist Lucas Amorim yesterday on this classic with a focus on playing lines along with left hand accompaniment. Lucas is an excellent vibist who studied with Gustavo and I while enrolled at Berklee here in Boston. A real pleasure to have as a student. Here's a few minutes of what we were working on.
An original tune titled Cream Pie. Slightly inspired by Dexter Gordon's tune Cheese Cake. Joe Zarr - Soprano, Joe Karwacki - Bass, Damian Allis - Drums and Matthew Rockwell Sokolic - randomly hitting some metal!
Gary Burton set the bar with his recording "Alone At Last" which was released in 1972. His rendition of this composition by Antonio Carlos Jobim was and still is unbelievable. I was very fortunate to study with Gary at Berklee while I was a student there from '72-'76. We spent quite a few lessons on this song. Gary talked about and showed various steps and techniques in approaching this song as a solo piece. This clip illustrates some steps, techniques and concepts as applied to Chega.
I've been spending a little time each day with Ed's book 1. The early info on passing tones is great. I figured for accountability's sake, I would just record a short segment of my practice this morning...
Clearly one of MY biggest issues as I work on becoming an improviser is creating pleasing melodies and lines that have a momentum to them - and that are interesting to listen to. The great players make this look so easy, right? In fact, almost everyone ELSE I listen to makes it look easy. haha.
I'm a week behind because I was out of town last week and didn't figure it was worthwhile to post a video of me playing on the towel. (see pic attached).
I put together a few different lessons here and then in the end, tried a little "play along" to bring some of the concepts together. It's a work in progress. haha. Meaning, this is all a little rough (understatement?) but that's what practicing is all about, right? :)
The lesson(s): A few of Behn's blues lessons. (Thanks Behn!) 3rds and 7ths, dominant lines, etc...I explain it all in the video.